Tool for expanding and contracting rims



W. K. WOLF.

TO0L FOR EXPANDING AND CONTRACTING RIMS.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 9, i920- Patented Mar. 28, 1922.

Walker KWcnlf ailio n 04f STATES T WALTER K. won-r, or nownsrown, PENNSYLVANIA.

TOOL FOR EXPANDING AND TRACTING RIMS.

To all w hom'it may concern: a

Be it knownthat I, l/VALTER K. WOLF, a

citizen of the United States, residing at Brownstown, in the county of Lancaster and State of Pennsylvania, have invented oer tain new and useful Improvements in a Tool for 'Ex'pa'ndin'g and Contracting Rims, ofv

.j which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to rim tools, and the primary object of the invention is to provide an improved device for quickly and easily contracting and expanding split wheel rims, so as to' facilitate the removal and placing oftire casings on the rim and eliminate the inconveniences heretofore experienced in this regard. i

Another object of the invention is topro-.

: vide an improved rim expander and contractor embodying a pair of slidably connected bars, an improved means for sliding thebarstov'vard or away from each other, and an improved means formed on the outer endsof the bars for engaging the-rim when the same is to be expanded or contracted,

said means preventing the accidental dis, placement of the bars from the rim. during its adjustment. I

A furtherobject of the invention is to providean improved rim expander andcontr ctor in which a-novel type of adjusting lever' isprOvided, thelever being so associated with the device that [the position thereof can be quickly and easily reversed, so that the bars constituting the, adjusting members forthe rim can bemoved toward or away from each other to permit of the effective expanding and; contracting of a rim, the lever also being associated with the device in such a manner that the same can be detached entirely from the adjusting bar when the device is not in use, thereby permitting the device to be stored in a very I small space.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an improved tool for expanding and contracting vehicle wheel rims of the above character which is durableand efficient I in use, one that is simple and easy to manufa'cture, and one which can be placed upon the market at a reasonable cost.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in the novel construction,

, arrangement and formation of parts as will Specification of Letters Patent. v P t te n of rack teeth 10 1920. Serial no. 387,260.

be' hereinafter more specifically described,

claimed and illustrated in the accompany mg drawings, forming a part ofthis speci fication, in which drawings;

Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal section through .the improved tool showing the same in position on a rim for contracting the same. l i I 1 i Figure 2 is a similar view showing the tool in position on a rim for expanding the same, and i i Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of the improved tool illustrating the means for associating the adjusting lever therewith.

Referring to the drawings in detail, wherein similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, the letter A generally indicates the improved "rim expander-and contraetorand Bavehicle rim.

The rim B is of the 'its'side longitudinal edges are provided with upstanding flanges 9, which define a guide trackfor thebar 8. The provision of'these flanges absolutely precludes lateral movement of the bars in relation to "each other. The bar8 constitutes the adjusting bar and its upper face is which are adapted to; be engaged by a pawl 11 carried by the adj list-- mg lever 12 which is of .novel construction and will behereinafter more fully described.

The outerendsof the bars '7 and 8, areprovided with means for engaging the rim when the same isto be expanded orcontracted and this means consists of hooks 13, which are formed by bending the outer ends of the rods downwardly and inwardly. The hooked a ends 13 are adapted to engage the outer face of the flanges 60f the rim B when therim is to be contracted. The outer terminals of the bars inward of the hooks 13 are provided with outwardly extending hooks 14: which v ordinary or any prefer-red construction and is provided with As shown the rim B provided with a plurality extension 17' -is provided with a knuckle or open hinge barrel 1'8, which is adapted to detachably eng age'either one of a pair of aredisposed in opposite direction to the V hooks 13 andthese hooks are {adapted to engage the inner surface of the flanges 6 when the rim B is tobe expanded. Thus it can be seen that an effective means has been pro-1 vided for'each outer terminal of the bars 7 and 8 for effectively engaging the rim when:

the same is to be contracted or expanded.

V The, improved, adjusting-lever '12 constitutes an elongated body or bar 15, the lower terminal of which is bent inwardly substantially at right angles to the body to form a foot 16-." Thelowerterminalof this foot is then bent outwardly to provide an extension 17 which lies substantially parallel to the body'15 of'the lever. The terminalof the pins 19 and 20, which, are arranged transversely of the bars Tand 8. These pinsjlf) and 20 arecarried' by upstanding ears 21 formed on the upper surfaces of the guide fl'anges 9. The knuckle or hinge barrel 18' relationto the bar7,'akdouble pawl 22 is providedi' Thisdouble pavvl22 is mounted u pon'a'" pin '23, which is arranged trans versely across the'bar, and the pin is carried by upstandingears 24Lformed on 'the guide fi anges' fi; j" o In operation of the improved tool, when it is desired'toeontract aqrini so, as 'to facili tate'the removing or placing of'the tire casing thereon, the hooks 13 are 7 placed "in engagement with the outer surface of the flanges 6 of the rim B. The knuckle 18 "or hinge barrel is placed on the pin 20 and the pivoted dog l l-is-placed in engagement with any one of the rack teeth'lO formedon' the upper surfaceof the bar 8. The'lever 12 is then swung downwardly which will push the dog 11toward-the'outerend of the bar 7 and thus push the bar 8 inwardly and bring the hooked terminals 13 of the bars ;7 and8.

. towards each othe'iu- This will eifectively contract-the rim; As the bars 7 and8 mofve inwardlyythe double ended pawl 22 rocks on the pivot pin 23 and permits the bar 8 to pass'inwardly. Assoo'n as the dog 11 disengages the-teeth 10 the double ended-pawl 22: will prevent outward movement of the bar 8*in: relation tothe bar 7.

VVh'en it"is desired toexpand the rim, the double ended pawl 22 is swung on the pivot pin 23 so as to engage the rack teeth 10 on moved from the pin. After the lever has been; disengaged from the pin 20, the same is placed in engagement with the pin 19 with the dog 11 disposed innermost and the hooks 14 are placed in engagement with the inner surface of the flanges 6 of the rim B. The lever 12 is then swung inwardly which will push the dog 11' outwardly and thus move the hooks 1i away from each other in oppo site directions which will effectively expand the rim. The position of the double awl 22 permits of an nward movement of he bar and effectively holds the rim in its expanded condition. '1' V From the foregoing specification, it can be seen that an improved rim contractor and expander has been provided of exceedingly simple and durable construction, which will of slidabl connected members, means can ried by t e terminals, of the members for engaging the work, a pair. of spacedpins carriedby'one of theinembers a reversible op erating leverfor detach ably engaging either one of said pins, means'carried'by theleverf'or operatively engaging the other member, and

means carried by one of the members for engaging theother member to lock said members'in an adjusted position in relation to each other. V y

2. In a tool for expanding and contracting wheel rims for tires, the combinationwith a pair of sli dabl'y connected; bars, means formed on" the outer. terminals of the bars for'detjac'hably engaging the inner and outer surfacesof'a rim, a pair of spaced pins carried by one of the bars, a reversible leverar ranged to detachably engage either one'o f said pins,"a rack face formed on the'othe'r bar-, -a pivoteddog carried by the lever al- I ranged to"en'gage the rack face, and a re versible pawl arranged. to engageftlle crack,

face-formed on said bar to hold the bars in their adjustedpo iti r 1 3;;In a tool" for expanding and contracting vehicle rims" for tires, the combination with abar having a guide formed thereon, a second bar slidably mounted on the upper surface of the first bar,a pair of spaced" transversely extending pins 'carried'by the first bar, a rack face formed on the upper surface of the second bar,.an adjusting lever including a body, a right angularly extending foot formed on the lower end of the body, a vertically extending extension formed on said foot, an open knuckle carried by the free terminal of the extension arranged to detachably engage either one of said pins, a pivoted dog carried by the lower end of said foot arranged to extend in opposite direction from said knuckle, the dog 

